Lady&#39;s undergarment



I. C. B. JONES LADYS UNDERGARMENT Filed 001:. 30, 1948 2 Sept. 12, 1950 w 9 II n m. M 1

Patented Sept. 12, 1950 Irene Constanc'eiBalmain Jones, East Brunswick,

Victoria;Australiayassignor to Prestige Limited; East-Brunswick; Victoria, Australia", a company Applicationbctoberfifl, 1948,.-Scrial --N9. 57,5611 I InAustralia'January 22,1948

capableof supporting, a pair of stockings.

' Hitherto garments used" for the" purpose of supportingstockings" have" been of" two general types, viz: foundation garments sucli'ascorsets; corselettes" and girdles" which perform the function of figure moulding as -well a'sthe' function of'supporting"thestockings; andgarments'suchas" Suspender belts which are used' prunarily' as stocking supports.

Corsets, girdles andsimil'ar devices restrict ings without thenecessltyfor employing atightfitting figure gripping garmentwhich restricts body movement. Theme of 'suspender-beltsdoes not adequately meet this requirement. 4

A further disadvantage of foundation or" fig ure -mo'ulcling garments is that suchigarments; owing to their construction,- a're'difhcult to launder, and in addition they afesubject todeterio= ration on laundering'dueto-the rubber or" other elastic material incorporated therein.

As far as I am' aware, it has not previously been foundpossible to construct" a single garment which will satisfactorily perform the dual" functions" of a crotched non-elastic and nonfigure-inouldin'g' garment" such: as a" pair" of" pantees, sc'antee's, briefs" or the'like, on'the'ron'e' hand, and-a stockingsup'port, on the other hand;

The reason for this" will be'apparent' when it is realised that pantees; scantees' and the likeare normally constructed of light non-elastic woven or knitted fabric, are capable of moderate long?- a tudinalor lateral stretch under tension; and'are' constructed so asto' grip thefigure" at" the waist"- to be impracticable;

According tothis-invention, however, it has beeniif'ound possible to construct a garment of the type in question which 1 can be used as apair of pantees or the likesand also, if: sorde'siredt as:

a stocking support Thegarme'nt' eifectivel'y supports the stockings of the wearer whenziti is requiredto. be: used forsuclii purpose; and yet is: so formedr asitc retam the non contraictingz nqn moultiin'g characteristics of a normal pair" ofpant'ees.

An' object of this invention, therefore, is to t pro'vide 'a novel 'garment'which'serves the comfi bined functions of a pair of pantees or the like and "of supporting" means for" stockings" when these arewolnJ A stillfurthefob'ject" is to pro-- vide a garment which can be used as a," pairo'f" pantees or the like" without stocking supporting lol means when. stockings are" not worn.

a A yet further object reside's'in constructing a nether garment whichis. capableof supporting stockings in a" more comfortable and satisfactory'manner' thanh'as' hithertobeen possible withgarments previously, employed 'forthls'purpose:

A' still further object is to provide a garment which can be readily laundered; the stocking supportingme'ans being capable of being detached for this purpose, which garment not zo subjeot to deterioratiori on laundering" as are:

foundation garments and stock-mg supports at resent-'in'-usei-- Ir'rthe elisuirlgdesdflpltibh, the term pantees is to beunderstood asincluding ladies knickers,

briefs; shor'ts,'-- scantees; bloomersancfsini'ilal ga-r ments.

Accordingto this-invention; I rovide a 1ady'-s undergarment of thekind desoribed which com prises a crotoh'ed non-contracting" non-figure moulding" nether garment of light non -elastic moderately extensible fabric, saidhethergarmenthaving 'afr ont portion; a back: portion,- hip portions, legportionsi and a crotch portion, an elastic'waistban d on saidl -net'her'garment} a mare:

inforcing strip seoured to the fabr ic of the; gar

merit and-extending from points at the frontof eachleg portion aroundthe' hip portionsand': back p'ortiomof'ithe garment, asecond reiniorm lng' strip securedto" the: fabric of the'garmeht and extending' from-points near the rear of ea'oh leg portion across the; front portion of the: gar: ment and securedvto'the' first reinforcing strip;- and: stockingsuspenders removably attached to the ends of the reinforcing strips.

:1: The garment is shaped:toi'ilt'v the body but is non grippingm and non-figure-moulding; The-.1

garmentis formediofl fabric 'of the type"llorn'i'aillyi I used in pant'ees,-, scantees and: thei like, and the: saidfabric is: non-elastic": and: isrpreferablyex tens'ible in both" directions to an. appreciablm.

leg portionsi arrnpreferahly formed t'o loosely "sur- I round-the wearerfs thigh, but: desired, elastic-- or the like may be incorporated'thereint- The:firswreinforcine strip is preferably secured though limited'extent. The lower edges/of the to a point between the side and rear of the lower I edge of the other leg portion;

The reinforcing strips or bands are formed of material having substantially greater tensile strength and less extensibility than the fabric 4 length by means of adjustable fastenings 2! are removably attached to the lower ends of the reinforcing strips l6 and I1 beneath the leg portions M of the garment. In the construction shown in Figure 3 this is effected by means of a sliding ,clip 22 which is attached to. each suspender strap 20 and is removablyattachable to a looped tab 23 secured to the lower ends of the reinforcing strips I6, 11. In the modified construction shown in Figure 4, the suspender strap 20 is provided at its upper end with a tab 26 having a buttonhole 21 which is removably attachable to afbutton 28 secured to the inner face or the reinforcing strip [6 (or H) at its of which the main portion of the garment is constructed.

A feature of the invention resides in the fact seated, as is frequently the case with existing garments, such as corsets having stocking supports.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of our invention. In these drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a ladies undergarment shown in position on the wearer;

Figure 2 is a perspectiveview of the rear of the garment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, partly broken away, showing one method of attachment of the stocking suspenders, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of an alternative method of attaching the suspenders.

Referring to the drawings, and with particular reference to Figures 1 to 3, the garment comprises essentially a pair of pantees l0 formed of light woven or knitted fabric and which are shaped to fit but not to grip or mould the figure. The pantees ID are provided with an elastic waistband II, a front portion. [2, a back portion l3, leg portions M, and a gusset or crotch portion 15.

A pair of reinforcingv or supporting strips or Q bands [6,11 formed of fabric which is relatively inextensible in a longitudinal direction are se- I cured to the inside of the garment by stitching along their edges.

The reinforcing strip or band [6 extends from a point A at the front of one leg portion l4 upwardly around the hip and back of the garment and downwardly to a similar point B at.

smooth curve from a point C at one side and towards the rear of a leg portion l4 upwardly across the front of the garment and then downwardly to a corresponding point D on the other leg portion I4. The second strip 11 crosses the first strip It at points E and F above and slightly to the rear of the lower ends of the firststrip l6 and the strips Iii-and H are stitched together where they m-eet..

Suspender straps 20 .whichare adjustable in lower end. Suspender fittings 24 are secured to the lower ends of the suspender straps 20 and areadalotedYto be attached to the welt 25 of 'a stocking inthe usual manner.

thetension exerted by the stocking is carried primarily by the reinforcing strip l6 which extends around the hips and back of the wearer. This tensionis felt only to a slight extent by the wearer and the freedom of movement obtained with normal pantees are retained. In addition,

the construction of the garment is such that it remains in position on the wearer even when substantial tension is exerted thereon by the stockings. These features are of considerable importance and greatly enhance the attractiveness and saleability of the garment.

The tension exerted by the stocking is also supported by the second strip l7 and since the strips l6 and I! are securedtogether at points E and F, the strain exerted on the rear suspenders is taken partly by the strip I6 which passes around the rear of the garment and partly by the strip [1. Moreover, the strip [1 performs the function of preventing spreading of the front portion I2 ofthe garment which might otherwise occur when strain is applied to the strip 16.

In the case of garments of normal construction having stocking supports, substantial discomfort is experienced by the wearer when she is seated owing to the increase in tension on the rear suspenders, and in thestraps to which they 7 are attached. A further and important feature of this invention resides in the fact that the tension on the rear suspender straps 2B is not substantially increased when the wearer is seated. According to thepresent invention, the sections 39 of the garment directly above the rear suspenders are not reinforced and being formed of extensible material are capable of substantial extension when the wearer, is seated,

while at the same time, the sections 30 of the strips I 1 between the rear suspenders and points E .and F swing forwardly when the wearer sits so as to assist in avoiding undue tension on the rear suspenders. As a result, the comfort to the wearer is greatly enhanced.

A still further feature resides in the fact that the rear suspenders and suspender straps may be first attached to the stocking and may be 'securedtothe garment. afterthe stocking is in aim-em position, thusiobviating."thee-difficulty of attach ing, the rearsuspenders. to. the. stocking, whichis xperiencedwith garments of 'the ,norn'ialtype.

The portion 3| of the reinforcing strip It at the rear oftl'i'ei-g-arment may*be'formed of elastic materialzand may be constructed so as to be: free;

from thesgarment if so desired-gin addition", it

' w-ilia-be understood thatthe suspenders-andsuspenderstraps mayconvenientlgzbe detac'hed'from theggarmenttfor launderingin t oses.

l1;A-lad-y?s undergarmentof the-kind described whichco nprises a, crotched form-fittingnoncontracting non-figure-moulding nether garment of the pull-up type constructed of light non-elastic moderately extensible fabric, said garment having a front portion, a back portion, hip portions, leg portions and a crotch portion, an elastic waistband on said garment, a first reinforcing strip of substantially inextensible material secured interiorly to the fabric of the garment and disposed to extend from a point at the front of the lower edge of one leg portion upwardly and rearwardly around the adjacent hip portion and across the back portion of the garment at a short distance below the waistband and downwardly and forwardly around the other hip portion to a point at the front of the lower edge of the other leg portion, the said first reinforcing strip thereby extending over the hips of the wearer and across the small of the wearers back when the garment is'worn so that said strip and th fabric to which it is attached are supported against downward movement when tension is applied to the lower ends of the strip during wear, a second reinforcing strip of substantially inextensible material secured interiorly to the fabric of the garment and disposed to extend upwardly from a point between the side and rear of the lower edge of one leg portion and transversely across the front portion of the garment and downwardly to a point between the side and rear of the lower edge of the other leg portion, the first reinforcing strip and second reinforcing strip being secured together where they intersect and the second reinforcing strip serving to prevent spreading of the front portion of the garment when tension is applied to the lower ends of the first reinforcing strip during wear, suspender straps removably attached to the lower ends of the reinforcing strips, and stocking suspenders attached to the suspender straps.

2. A ladys undergarment of the kind described which comprises a crotched form-fitting noncontracting non-figure-moulding nether garment of the pull-up type constructed of light non-elastic moderately extensible fabric, said garment having a front portion, a back portion, hip portions, leg portions and a crotch portion, an elastic waistband on said garment, a first reinforcing strip of substantially inextensible material secured interiorly to the fabric of the garment and disposed to extend from a point at the front of the lower edge of one leg portion upwardly and rearwardy around the adjacent hip portion and across the back portion of the garment at a short distance below the waistband and downwardly and forwardly around the other hip portion to a point at the front of the lower edge of the other leg portion, the said first reinforcing strip thereby extending over the hips of the wearer and across the small of the wearers back when the garment is worn so that said strip and the fabric to which it is attached are sup- 6? ported -..aeainst1 downward; movement: when sion isizappliedhtoz the-rlower'cendsaof the; strip during aweanra secondireinforcing-strip efssubzstantially;inextensible-material. secured interiorly to: the fabric: of, :theygarment .and -disposed -=to extendiiupwardlw from: a point: betweenther- :side and-:reari of. the lower edge; bfz one: leg portion and: transversely acrossthe l-frontportionxofr the garment:andzdownwardlyxto arpointzbetween the sidesandirearrof 1711 1103161. edgezofthe otherxleg portion, the-1 .first reinforcing: strip; and .:second reinforcing strip :being secured togethen'where thew-intersect;landsithe; second reinforcing strip serving to prevent spreading of the front portion of the garment'when tension is applied to the lower ends of the first reinforcing strip during wear, suspender straps of adjustable length detachably secured to the lower ends of the first and second reinforcing strips at points substantially level with the lower edges of the leg portions, and stocking suspenders attached to the lower ends of the suspender straps, the sections of the garment above the lower ends of the second reinforcing strip being substantially extensible so that the sections of th second reinforcing strip between the lower ends thereof and the points of intersection with the first reinforcing strip may swing forwardly when the wearer sits in order to prevent undue tension on the rear stocking suspenders when the wearer is seated.

3. A ladys undergarment of the kind described which comprises a crotched form-fitting noncontracting non-figure-moulding nether garment of the pull-up type constructed .of light non-elastic moderately extensible fabric, said garment having a front portion, a back portion, hip portions, leg portions and a crotch portion, an elastic waistband on said garment, a first reinforcing strip of substantially inextensible material secured interiorly to the fabric of the garment and disposed to extend from a point at the front of the lower edge of one leg portion upwardly and rearwardly around the adjacent hip portion and across the back portion of the garment at a, short distance below the waistband and downwardly and forwardly around the other hip portion to a point at the front of the lower edge of the other leg portion, the said first reinforcing strip thereby extending over the hips of the wearer and across the small of the wearers back when the garment is worn so that said strip and the fabric to which it is attached are supported against downward movement when tension is applied to the lower ends of the strip during wear, a second reinforcing strip of substantially inextensible material secured, interiorly to the fabric of the garment and disposed to ex"- tend upwardly from a point between the side and rear of the lower edge of one leg portion and transversely across the front portion of the garment at a substantial distance below the waistband and at a short distance above the crotch portion and downwardly to a point between the side and rear of the lower edge of the other leg portion, the first and second reinforcing strips intersecting at points located above and slightly to the rear of the lower ends of the first reinforcing strip and being secured together at such points, the second reinforcing strip serving to prevent spreading of the front portion of the garment when tension is applied to the lower ends of the first, reinforcing strip during wear, front suspender straps attached to the ends of thefirst reinforcing strip, rear suspender straps attached to the ends of the second reinforcing maria-s75 sins, ineans for-adjusting the length of the front and rear suspender straps, andstocking suspenders removably attached to said suspender straps, the sections of the garment above the lower ends of the second reinforcing strip being substantially extensible so that the sections of the second reinforcing strip between the lower ends thereof and the points of intersection with the first reinforcing strip may swing forwardly when the wearer sits in order to prevent undue tension on the rear stocking suspenders when the wearer is seated;

IRENE CONSTANCE IBAIMAIN JONES.

8: REFERENCES CITED The following references "are of record in the file ofthispatentt f UNITED S ATES PAI'ENTS Number Name Date 1,141,754 -Bancroft June 1, 1915 1,618,435 Jacobs Feb. 22, 1927 1,732,946 QBrien Oct. 22, 1929 1,763,266 7 Simmons June 10, 1930 1,987,233 Goodman Jan. 8, 1935 2,056,898 Gray Oct. 8, 1936 $136,250 Peck Nov. 8, 1938' 

